Can filling machine



Nov. 1, 1932. o; H. HANSEN CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1928 6Sheets-Sheet l [A/MEA/ToFfw?! A T EA/5J6 Nov. 1, 1932. o. H. HANSEN1,885,012

CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 0157-11,, I f fs I I r a [M/EA To/ I ATTO A/EK NOV. 1, 1932. Q, HANSEN 1,886,012

CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 57 as 5 lo 58 9o O :[7 18 45 O O a o F O a O 4 '63 I o 40 0 58 o 64 I28 .Frg. 5.

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o. H. HANSEN CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed April '5, 1928 6 Shebts-Sheet 4NOV. 1, 1932. Q, HANSEN 1,886,012

CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTo A/EJ NQV.1, 1932. O HANSEN 1,886,012

CAN FILLING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 17-7-0 F A/EjPatented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OSWALD H. HANSEN, OFCEDARBURG, VJISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T HANSEN CANNING IVIACHINEBYCORPORATION, OF CEDARBURG, VIISOOIJSIN, A CORPORATION OF WIS- CONSIN CANFILLING MACHINE Application filed April 5,

The present invention relates in general to improvements in mechanismfor measurlng and delivering batches of material to a succession ofreceptacles, and relates more specifically to improvements in theconstruction and operation of machines for packing fibrous substancessuchas sauer kraut or the like, in containers.

A general object of the invention is to provide various improvements inthe details of construction of kraut fillers or the like, which willpermit simplification in the structure while at the same time enhancingthe eificiency of such machines.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide improvements inkraut filler structure, which are especially applicable to machines suchas disclosed in Patent No. 1,77 6,432, granted September 23, 1930. Someof the novel features of can filling machine structure, disclosed butnot specifically claimed herein, form the subject of said patent and ofPatents 1,726,297, granted August 27, 1929, and 1,750,467, granted March11, 1930.

Other specific refinements constituting the present improvement may begenerally defined'as follows The provision of more effective automatickraut fibre feeding mechanism for delivering the material to thesuccessive pockets of the measuring mechanism.

The provision of means for properly conditioning the kraut fibre priorto delivery thereof to the measuring pockets.

The provision of mechanism for effectively segregating the krautdelivered to the measuring pockets from that remaining in the v supplychamber.

The provision of means for insuring proper filling of the measuringpockets with homogeneous batches of kraut.

The provision of improved motion transmitting mechanism for impartingmovement to the various elements of can filling machines or the like.

The provision of an improved measuring plunger especially applicable tokraut measuring and feeding machines, and to other fillers adapted tohandle similar substances.

1928. Serial No. 267,545.

.tion being taken through the kraut fibre feeding and measuringmechanism of the device.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section taken through the can supplymechanism and one of the measuring devices.

Fig. 3 is a full top view of the improved kraut filling machine.

Fi at is a art sectional side elevation of the kraut filler and of theapparatus for conditioning and for supplying the conditioned material tothe machine.

Fig. '5 is a transverse horizontal section through the improved fillingmachine, the section being taken just below the material measuring andfeeding mechanism thereof.

Fig. 6 is a transverse horizontal section taken through the krautmeasuring and feeding mechanism of the improved machine.

Fig. 7 is a development of the improved measuring mechanism showing thevarious positions assumed by the successive plungers during normaloperation of the machine.

' Fig. 8 is a top view of a modified form of measuring mechanismespecially applicable to kraut filling machines or the like.

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through the modified structure of Fig.8.

Fig. 10 is a relatively fragmentary elevation of the machine, showingthe details of construction of the kraut fibre severing mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken transversely through the krautfibre feeding mechanism and chamber.

12 is a part sectional top View of the measuring mechanism showing thedetails of construction of the plunger-s and of the plunger guiding andretaining means.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of one or"the plungers.

Fig. 14 is a full bottom view of one of the plungers. 7

Referring generally to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, it will be noted that theimproved kraut filling machine comprises in general, an annular seriesof measuring devices for automatically producing a succession ofaccurate- Iy measured batches of kraut and juice and for delivering thesaid batches in a downward direction; mechanism for automaticallyconditioning the kraut and the juice and for feeihng the same to themeasuring devices; can transporting mechanism for automati callyconveying the cans through the mashine; and motion transmissionmechanism for driving the various elements of the machine.

.The automatic measuring mechanism specifically shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3,6, 7, 12, 13 and 14, consists of a stationary annular wall 10 having abottom plate 9 formed integral therewith; a rotary member 48 snuglyfitted fcr'rotation within the wall 10 and having therein an annularseries of measuring pockate 7 driving mechanism for intermittentlyadvancing the pockets 7 about the central axis of the wall 10; a seriesof vertically movableplungers 8 disposed within the pockets 7; andmechanism for moving the plungers 8 during rotation of the member 48.

The annular wall 10 is rigidly mounted upon a stationary can support 128which is secured to the main frame 28 of the machine, and has kraut andbrine feed openings 5, 68 respectively, through the lower portionthereof just above the bottom plate 9. The brine inlet opening 68 iscovered with a grid as shcwn in Fig. 2, and is in open communicationwith a supply pipe 40. The annular wall 10 is of different height atdifferent points about the axis thereof, the upper end of the wallcooperating with plunger actuating tracks to form rails for verticallymoving the plungers 8, see F 7. The rails thus roduced are engaged byrollers 59 carried ythe plungers 8, and the tracks 45 are verticallyadjustable to vary the stroke of the plungers 8, by means of adjustingmechanism 46. The bottom plate 9 is provided with a relatively longmaterial discharge opening 70 spaced vertically from the can support12-5. The successive cans are transportable'about the axis of the maindriving shaft '11 and directly beneath the bottom plate 9, by means of aseries of can hooks 12, the cans being supported upon the auxiliarysupport 69 or directly upon the main can suppoi-4:128.

The rotary pocket member 48 is secured to a main drive shaft 11 by meansof a detachable driving connection 61, and may be constructed as shownin Fig. 12. The main body of the member 48 is provided with radial armswhich partially embrace the plungers 8, and which have plunger retainers47 secured to the outer ends thereof by means of screws 51. The plungerretainers 47 snugly engage the bore of the wall 10 and coact withdetachable facings 49 of the plungers. The plunger facings 49 aredetachably secured to the plungers 8 by means of screws 52, the upper ofwhich also provide pivotal supports for the plunger actuating rollers59. The lower faces of the plungers 8 are provided with slots 44communicating with lateral holes 43, the latter being intermittentlycommunicable with an air vent 42 shown in Fig. 1, during admission ofthe kraut fibre to the successive pockets 7. A steam pipe 74 attached tothe stationary wall 10 as shown in Fig. 6, may be utilized for thepurpose of passing steam through the holes 43, slots 44 and pockets 7 inorder to prevent clogging of the air vent and to maintain the structureclean. Both the pocket member 48 and the plungers 8, are freelyvertically removable from the wall 10, and the plungers 8 may belikewise removed from the pocket member 48.

Since kraut juice is extremely detrimental to close fitting bearings, ithas been found desirable to construct the plungers 80 as shown in Figs.8 and 9. These plungers 80 have a relatively loose fit within thepockets 7, this fit being confined to the lower portions of theplungers. The upper end of each plun er is provided with a top plate 73which slida ly engages a pair of parallel guide rods 71, 72 in order toinsure parallel movement of the plunger, thus eliminating necessity ofsnugly fitting the plungers 80. p

The automatic kraut fibre feeding mechanism consists of a casing forminga chamber 4 having its outer end communicating upwardly with a krantsupply hopper 2 and having its inner end communicating laterally withthe openin 5 of the wall 10 as shown Figs. 1 and i plurality ofsimultaneously oscillatable and reciprocable fibre feeding fingers 6project into the chamber 4 from opposite sides thereof, the fingers 6being staggered as shown in Figs. 6, 11 and the rear fingers beingconfined toward the outermost portion of the chamber 4 in order topermit the entering kraut to settle to the bottom of the chamber. Thebottom of the-chamber 4 is formed as shown in Figs. 6 and '11, beingprovided with a plurality of drain openings or slots 41 beneath which islocated a pocket 3 for catching the escaping juice. As shown in Fig. 4,the drainage pocket 3 may be connected with a treating tank 33 by meansof a pipe 34.

The raking fingers 6 are slidabiy associated with oscillatory pivotblocks 79 supported by pivots 57, and have their outer ends pivotallyassociated with actuators 58 as shown in Figs. 3 and 6. The actuators 58are gyratable by means of cranks 64csecured to the upper ends ofvertical shafts 62 as disclosedin Figs. 3, 6 and 11, and the shafts 62are rotatable by means of spur gears 63 meshing-with gears 23 as shownin Fig. 5. The gears 63, 23 are simultaneously rotatable to move thefingers 6, by means of a gear 22 secured to the upright counter shaft 21and meshing with a gear 20 mounted upon the main driving shaft 16. Thefinger driving mechanismwhich is disposed above the can support 128 andon opposite sides of the chamber 4, is surrounded bysuitable guard walls56 in order to avoid injury to the operators. The inner ends of thefingers 6 are movable along looped paths withinthe chamber 4:, so as torake the admitted kraut fibre toward the opening 5 withouttearing thefibres.

An oscillatory kraut fibre shearing knife 75 shown in Fig. is located atthe discharge opening 5 and is swingable in a vertical plane about ahorizontal pivot at its upper end, by means of a bell crank 76 andconnecting link to sever the fibre admitted to the measuring pockets 7from that within the chamber 4, without tearing. The bell crank 76 isswingableback and'forth in a ver ical plane, by means of a gear 78meshing with a pinion 77 secured to one of the shafts 62. The gear 78 isprovided at its top with an annular cam groove having a laterallyoff-set portion which is intermittently engaged by a roller secured tothe horizontal arm of the bell crank 76, to swing the crank andtherebymove the knife back and forth.

The apparatus for treating the kraut prior to measuring and packingthereof,.consists of a combined bleaching, exhausting and sterilizingtank 33 to which the kraut is delivered in bulk from the vats, see Fig.l. The kraut fibre after being treated in the tank 33 is removed andelevated into'the supply hopper 2 along a chute 35. The entrained liquidor juice admitted to the chamber 4 with the kraut fibre, drains into thepocket 3 from whence it is returned to the tank 33 through the pipe 34.A pump 38 is adapted to withdraw liquid from the bottom of the tank 33through a strainer 50, and forces the removed liquid through a pipe 36to a supply tank 31 located adjacent to the measuring mechanism. Thekraut juice or brine passing through the pipe 36 may be heated by meansof a steam heater 37, and the tank 31 may be provided with a strainer 39in order to separate any fibre which may be admitted with the liquid.The upper portion of the supply tank 31 is provided with an overflow 32leading to the treating tank 33, and the portion of the tank 31 belowthe strainer communicates with the pipe 40 which communicates with themeasuring mechanism.

The empty cans are delivered to the machine by means of a can chute 53and a tapered can feed drum 29 the latter of which to transport thesuccessive cans 55 beneath the pockets 7 during filling, and a rotarycan dischargedisk 3O cooperates with an adjustable guide 54 to deliverthe filled cans from the machine.

The improved. motion transmitting mechanism for driving the variouselements of the machine, is shown in detail inFigs. 1, 2 and 5. The maindrive shaft 16 is rotatable in bearings secured to the main frame 28,being provided at one end with ahand wheel 26 and at its. opposite endwith driving and idler pulleys 17, 18 respectively. A driving belt whichcooperates with the pulleys is shiftable from one pulley to the other bymeans of a shifter 27 which is adjustable from one side of the machineby means of a lever 19, and from the opposite side by means of a similarlever 25 which is connected to the shifter 27by a connection 24.

-The horizontal main shaft 16 carries a driving worm gear 120 whichmeshes with a gear secured to a horizontal shaft 15 supported in theframe 28 and providing a sup port for the can feed drum 29. The shaft 15also carries a gear 66 meshing with a gear 67 which drives the dischargedisk 30, and has a grooved drum 14 secured to the medial portionthereof. A roller gear 13 secured to the main vertical shaft 11, has aseries of rollers which cooperate with the groove of the drum 1 1- toproduce intermittent rotation of the measuring pockets 7 during normaloperation of the machine. The main shaft 16 also carries the worm whichmeshes with the gear 22 to produce rotation of the shaft 21 and gears23, thereby operating the feeding fingers 6 in the manner previouslydescribed, during normal operation of the machine.

.Other details of construction of the machine are similar to thecorresponding details disclosed and. more fully describedin thecopending applications hereinbefore referred to, and need no furtherspecific description. It should be understood that the various elementsare formed of material capable of most effectively resisting wear andcorrosion due to the acid contained in the kraut juices.

During normal operation of the improved kraut filler, the kraut isdelivered in bulk to the treating vat 33 wherein it is bleached,exhausted and sterilized, the individual fibres being segregated duringsuch treatment. The kraut fibres are then removed from the tank 33 tothe supply hopper 2, and a supply of liquor is constantly delivered tothe tank 31 by means of the pump 38. The kraut admitted to the hopper 2drops by gravity to the bottom, of the chamber Land is graduallyadvanced toward the delivery opening 5 and is simultaneously gentlycompressed into a homogeneous dry mass, by

the oscillating fingers 6. The outermost ers 6 are relatively remotefrom the next set thereby providing a rather large clear space forthekraut to settle through. The liquid which drains from the kraut in thechamber 4 passes through the slots 41 to the tank 33, and the krautdischarged through the opening is delivered into one of the pockets 7which is maintained in communication with the opening 5 until properlyfilled, and in which the plunger 8 is elevated asshown in Fig. 1. Whenthe kraut receiving pocket 7 has been filled with fibre, it advancespast the shearing knife 75 which operates to cut the fibres within thepocket from the mass within the chamber 4, without tearing theindividual fibres. Immedifl-telyafter receiving a charge of kraut fibre,the pocket 7 is placed into communication with the brine supply pipe andtank 31 through the openings 68. Brine is then admitted and intermingleswith the kraut to totall fill the pocket 7, whereupon the pocketa vancesabout its axis of revolution and the measured batch is eventuallydischarged through the opening 70 into a can located therebeneath. Eachof the successive pockets 7 are supplied with fibre and juice in likemanner, and the successive cans 55 delivered to and from the machine arefilled with homogeneous and identical batches of mixture.

. It will be noted from the foregoing description, that the variousmechanism of the 'machine efiectively perform their several functions,automatically. The combined bleacher, exhauster and sterilizer 33 placesthe material in proper condition and separates the individual krautfibres from each other. When the mass of fibres is elevated anddelivered into the feeding chamber 4, all of the entrained liquid isremoved therefrom, and the production of equal batches of relatively drykraut fibre is assured. The disposition of the feeding fingers 6, alsoinsures uniform packing of the kraut. as it passes through the chamber4, and the shearing knife 75 effectively severs the measured batchesfrom the bulk within the chamber 4 without undesirably damaging thekraut.

The passage 43 in the plungers 8 cooperatingwith the air vent 42,constitutes means for insiirin proper filling of the measuring kets 7with homogeneous batches of kraut 1y insuring expulsion of air fromwithin t e pockets. The passages 43 and the slots 44 maybe efl'ectivelycleaned by admission of steam through the pipe 74, such admission alsoserving to maintain the pockets 7 clean. By utilizing the modifiedplunger construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the maintenance ofparallel motion for the plungers 80, is insured as the kraut juicescannot come in contact with the guide rods 71, 72 and thereby producecorrosion thereof. The

improved construction of the pistons or plungers 8 and of the member 48,specifically illustrated in Fig. 12, facilitates manufacture of theseelements and enables pro er fitting and guiding of the plungers 8. Thelengths of the feeding fingers 6 may be varied to produce the desiredfill, and the strokes of the plungers 8 may be likewise varied by meansof the adjusting mechanism 46. The auxiliary can supports 69 may also beutilized when filling cans of different sizes.

It will also be noted that the improved driving and motion transmittingmechanism is relatively simple and compact in construction. The machinemay be controlled by manipulation of either of the levers 19, 25, andmay be operated manually by means of the hand wheel 26. The variouselements of the structure are readily accessible for inspection, and theplungers 8 and the member 48 may be readily removed for cleaning.

Itshould be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention tothe exact details of construction and to the precise mode of operationherein shown and described, for various modifications within the'scopeof the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patents 1. Incombination, a series of measuring pockets movable about an axis, afeeding chamber formed to compress material passing therethrough andbeing communicable with the successive pockets of said series, saidchamber having openings for removing liquid from a mass of materialpassing through said chamber, and a plurality of movable fingers forurging fibrous material through said chamber and into said pockets.

2. In combination, a series of measuring pockets movable about an axis,a plurality of fingers movable to compress and rake fibrous materialinto the successive pockets of said series, means having openings forremoving all liquid from the fibrous material during said raking, andmeans for subsequently mixing liqu d with the fibrous material withinsaid pockets.

3. In combination, a series of movable measuring pockets, a plurality ofmovable fingers for compressing and for urging fibrous material into thesuccessive pockets of said series, and means providing a vent foreffecting escape of air from said pockets during admission of saidfibrous material thereto.

4. In combination, a series of measuring pockets movable about an axis,a plurality of fingers for compressing and for ur ing fibrous materialinto the successive poc rets of said series, means having openings forremoving all liquidfrom said fibrous material during movement thereof bysaid fingers, said means also providing a vent for effecting escape ofair from said pockets during admission of said fibrous material, andmeans for subsequently mixing liquid with the fibrous material Withinsaid sockets.

5. In combination, a series of measuring pockets, a plunger within eachof said pockets, and a plurality of devices for compressing and forurging fibrous material into each of the successive pockets of saidseries, said plungers havings vents for efiecting escape of air fromeach of said pockets through said plungers and through a Wall of saidpockets during admission of fibrous material.

6. In combination, a series of measuring pockets movable about an axis,a plunger loosely fitting each of said pockets and movable thereincuring advancement of said pocket about said axis, a plurality ofparallel guide rods located outside of said pockets for producingparallel movement of each of said plungers within its pockets, means fordelivering fibrous material and liquid to each of said pockets, andmeans for delivering said materials from each of said pockets during adifferent stage of advancement thereof about said axis.

7. In combination, means forming a horizontally tapered chamber, aplurality of measuring pockets successively communicable with saidchamber, means for delivering fibrous material into sa d chamber, andtwo sets of movable fingers projecting through each side of saidchamber, the sets at one side being higher than those at the other andthe path of movement of said sets overlapping each other.

8. In combination, a horizontally elongated chamber having opposite sidewalls, and a plurality of superposed sets of movable feeding fingersprojecting into said chamber through each side thereof, the upper andlower sets of said fingers at one side of said chamber being higher thanthe corresponding sets at the opposite side thereof and the path ofmovement of said sets overlapping each other.

9. In combination, a series of measuring pockets movable about an axis,a plunger reciprocable within each of said pockets during advancementthereof about said axis, the cross-section of said plungers beingsubstantially equal to that of said pockets, a plurality of parallelguides for producing parallel movement of each of said plungers Withinthe corresponding pocket, means for delivering fibrous material andliquid to each of said pockets, and means for delivering said materialsfrom each of said pockets during a different stage of advancementthereof about said axis.

10. In combination, a stationary annular wall having a cylindrical bore,a member rotatable Within said bore, said member forming an annularseries of measuring pockets, a plunger movable centrally Within each ofsaid pockets, and a pair of parallel guides secured to said member andcoacting with each of said plungers to insure parallel movement thereofWithin its pocket.

11. In combination, a series of measuring pockets movable about an axis,a plunger reoiprocable Within each of said pockets, and devices forcompressing and for urging fibrous material into each of the successivepockets of said series, each of said plungers having a vent forpermitting escape of air from the corresponding pocket through saidplunger and through a Wall of said pocket during admission of fibrousmaterial.

12. In combination, a series of measuring pockets, a plunger movablewithin each of said pockets, devices for compressing and for urgingfibrous material into each of the successive pockets of said series,said plungers having vents for permitting escape of a r from each ofsaid pockets through said plungers and through a wall of said pocketsduring admission of fibrous material, and means for preventing escape offibrous material through said vents.

13. In combination, a series of measuring pockets movable about an axis,a plunger reciprocable within each of said pockets, devices forcompressing and for urging fibrous material into each of the successivepockets of said series, each of said plungers having a vent forpermitting escape of air from the corresponding pocket through saidplunger and through a wall of said pockets during admission of fibrousmaterial, and means for preventing escape of fibrous material throughsaid vents.

14. In combination, aseries of measuring pockets movable about an axisand having a common stationary Wall enclosing a side thereof, a plungermovable within each of said pockets, and means for compressing and forurging fibrous material into each of said pockets in succession, each ofsaid plungers having a vent communicable With a port in said wall topermit escape of air from the pocket during the admission of othermaterial.

In testimony whereof, the signature of the inventor is aifixed hereto.

OSWVALD H. HANSEN.

